Loving this super-cute Zoology tableware by Boston Warehouse… the contemporary shapes and all-white finish reminds me of Jonathan Adler’s fabulous signature style, but these pieces are a lot easier on the pocketbook! (Prices range from $9.95 – $24.95 at Heliotrope) Clever gift ideas for hostesses & new nesters too…

Pictured above: Rhino Butter Dish ($9.95), Giraffe Oil & Vinegar Set ($24.95), and Mouse & Cheese Salt/Pepper Set ($9.95).

Pictured above: Turtle Jam Jar ($9.95), Elephant Teapot ($9.95), and Whale Cream/Sugar Set ($9.95).

Pictured above: Pig Dip Bowl & Spreader Set ($9.95), Fish Salt/Pepper Set ($9.95), and Birds Salt/Pepper Set ($9.95).

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Can you believe that Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner already?!

Along the lines of holiday, I have some fun news to share about a project I worked on earlier this year with Chambord that just recently hit the shelves… this year’s Chambord Holiday Gift Set: “Have a Ball This Holiday Season“.

The gift set comes with a 375ml bottle of Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, 2 pretty flute glasses, and a holiday tips booklet filled with Peacock-themed decorating ideas from me and yummy recipes from Chambord like the “Pomegranate Sparkle” and “French Polynesian“.

I chose a “Festive Peacock Feather” theme for the booklet because it’s such a pretty color palette that works well for all sorts of holiday parties – from Christmas and New Year’s to neutral celebrations. Here’s a peek at the featured centerpiece:

More pics of the booklet and the gift box – which has a wonderfully contemporary package design – are below. (Those are my real friends with me at the table too, which made the photo shoot so much more fun!)

Back view of the box:

Top & side views if the box… featuring a fabulous new pattern that Chambord recently introduced into their branding:

The gift box sets are available at various grocery stores across the country – usually in the wine/liquor area or on special holiday end caps with similar sets. The first time I actually saw them myself was when my husband was checking out at our local VONS recently and happened to notice them along the front wall and brought one home (after first sending an iPhone pic from the store course!)… pretty exciting for us =)

This was such a fun project to work on, and I’m so grateful to Chambord for inviting us to be a part of it, and for being so wonderful to work with along the way. If you’re looking for a fun holiday hostess gift idea, or even just a treat for yourself, please check it out!

P.S. In addition to the recipes included in the booklet, here are a few more yummy ways to enjoy Chambord over the holidays:

• Chocolate Raspberry Fondue
• White Chocolate Raspberry Cocoa
• White Chocolate Raspberry Martini
• Raspberries and Cream Shooter
• French Kiss Martini
• Pour it over vanilla ice cream or blackberry sherbert!

I was browsing the new issue of Real Simple last night and fell in love with these Pool Ball Wine Bottle Stoppers! Pair one of these stoppers with a bottle of wine for a fun holiday gift idea for guys, party hosts/hostesses, or the wine lover that has everything. ($34 each)

Also loving how Real Simple styled the photo above – this idea would actually look great as a decorative accessory in any combo bar/game room and would be a fun DIY decor project to create yourself (for decorative purposes only), using an old or new billiard set set, wine corks (available at craft stores), & a hot glue gun… plus a very strong adhesive if you plan to display it on the wall!

While checking out the details at knobstoppers.com, I also discovered lots of other cool bottle stopper designs… from vintage designs channeling Anthropologie or Restoration Hardware’s style to combo stoppers/candle holders and even something for your favorite golfer:

Full details on all these and more at knobstoppers.com.

P.S. Added bonus: A percentage of all of their online sales will be donated to the Brain Tumor Research Fund at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

We’ve got a wonderful – and super generous – new Surprise Giveaway for you today! Cambria Cove, a beautiful gifting website that strives to create “The Exceptional Gifting Experience“, is offering up $250 Shopping Sprees to TWO lucky readers!

If you’re on the market for gifts for loved ones, holiday decor, or new kitchen & dining finds for holiday entertaining (or everyday entertaining), you’ll find tons of great ideas at Cambria Cove.

Pictured above and below are some personal favorites (from gift ideas, entertaining finds, hostess gifts, and bar accessories), and there’s much, much more to check out on the website. (Details on how to enter at the bottom of this post.)

Modern servware ideas… I just LOVE these Red Waffle Cone Sundae Glasses – they’d be so cute garnished with candy canes for the holidays!

Cool bar accessories… from Monogrammed Cooler Glasses to a pretty Copper Grape Leaf for your (or your party hostess’s) favorite bottle of vino!

Creative gift ideas for the holiday hostess:

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HOW TO ENTER:

• Post a comment here telling us which item(s) from the Cambria Cove website you think are especially fabulous – or would love to get if you win!

• Giveaway ends Wednesday, November 18th at midnight PST. The 2 winners will be chosen randomly and announced here as soon as they’ve accepted the prize. Good luck!!

Winner Update 5/28/09: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks so much to everyone that entered! And the lucky random winner is… Commenter #301 – Emily, who said, “I adore the little red riding hood lunchbox, as well as the roses calling card case! also, the water bottle with the paris scene is too cute for words!!” Congrats, Emily!

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We have a fabulous new Suprise Giveaway today! This one comes from Kir De Vries – a wonderful shop that we’ve featured before. They’ve got so much cool stuff to offer – from great gift ideas and home accessories to fresh entertaining finds and more… a great place to check out with the gifting season coming up!

And this week, Kir De Vries is generously offering up a $100 Shopping Spree towards anything on their site to a lucky HWTM reader!

A few personal favorites from the shop are pictured here, including the guaranteed-conversation-starter Whisky Stones (pictured at top, left), and cheeky card holders & pocket cases (above). Also loving the adorable Pylones Paris Pie & Cake Server (below)…

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HOW TO ENTER
• Post a comment here telling us which item(s) from the Kir De Vries website you’d love to get if you win!
• Giveaway ends Tuesday, October 27th at midnight PST. Winner will be chosen randomly. Good luck, everyone!!

For the first time in my life I’m thinking that toilet plungers and dustpans would actually make for great gifts! This change of view can be  credited solely to Alice Supply Co. – whose fun, hip designs for garden hoses, buckets, brooms, & more just might change the way you look at housework…(at least a little bit!)

The prices are affordable too, making these great gift ideas for new nesters, the college bound, and recent college grads…. or maybe even that teen living in your house that could use a little “encouragement” getting the chores done!

Pictured above: Dustpan & Brush Set ($16.50); Chip Cheery Garden Hose ($38), and Modern Plunger ($18.50) – all at Delight.com.

Pictured above & below: Modern Toolboxes ($46.50 at Delight.com)

Pictured below: 10-Quart Striped Bucket ($36), 3-Pack Sponge Set ($6), and Dust Brush ($10) – all at alicesupplyco.com.  (Broom & Mat will be available on October 31st)

This week’s Surprise Giveaway is all about entertaining! It comes from Gallery 19 – a fabulous website for party lovers & hostesses of all sorts of occasions – from holidays to birthdays to everyday dinner parties and beyond!

There’s so much great stuff at Gallery 19 site…it was really hard to narrow down what to feature in this post! You’ll find everything from paper tableware, gift wrap, and gift ideas to stationery, serveware & home decor, and much more. And today they’re offering up a $100 Shopping Spree to a lucky HWTM reader to spend as they please on the Gallery 19 website!

A few personal favorites are pictured above at below… At top: various hand-painted napkin rings, spreaders, and serving dishes that come in an array of fabulous colors!

Directly above: various products from the colorful PARTY ON Birthday Collection.

Pictured above: a few of the many stylish paper plate designs… and pictured below: Halloween party products for your October celebrations!

Here are a few of Gallery 19′s humorous gift ideas, which include magnetic notepads, purse pads, coffee mugs, wine stoppers, & more…

And just because they’re way too cute, I couldn’t resist featuring these fun Barnyard Collection items too… =)

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

• Post a comment here telling us which product(s) from Gallery 19 look especially fabulous to you!

• Giveaway ends Tuesday, September 1st at midnight PST. Winner is chosen randomly and will be notified via email Wednesday, September 2nd. Good luck!!

Winner Update: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks so  much to everyone that entered! And the randomly selected winner is: Commenter # 235 – Lynn, who said, “I love the cocktail napkins and the drink me flutes What a cute selection they have!” Congrats, Lynn!

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If you love colorful, clever, and unique entertaining finds, then today’s SURPRISE GIVEAWAY is for you! HostessJo.com was born from Joanna’s passion for entertaining and it shows! You’ll find everything from hilarious Anne Taintor products to stylish Jesse Steel aprons to backyard BBQ accessories in her shop.

This week, HostessJo.com is offering a $100 Shopping Spree towards your favorite hostess gifts & entertaining products on their website! (A few of my personal favorites pictured below: Cork Cheese Spreaders, Girls Night Glass Stick ‘Ems, Casablanca Wine Glasses, and Colorful Stripes Coasters.)

(More products + details for HOW TO ENTER after the jump…)

Pictured below: cool cocktail napkins from the partyware section, clever Ant Tablecloth Weights (great for picnics!), and just a couple examples from the fabulous selection of themed Koozies.

Pictured below: Giardino Dragonfly Server and Outdoor Wine Glass Holders (2 per set)…

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HOW TO ENTER:

• Post a comment here telling us which item(s) from HostessJo.com that you think are especially fabulous – or would love to get if you win!

• Giveaway ends Monday, June 8th at midnight PST. Winner is chosen randomly and will be announced Tuesday, June 9th. Good luck!!

Calling all fashionistas: Add some serious style to your table (or your walls) with these Ben Collection Fashion Plates by Working Class Studio! Each melamine plate features a sketch by the late Savannah College of Art and Design professor and distinguished illustrator Ben Morris. ($8.95 each at heliotrope)

These plates coordinate well with the rest of the stylish Ben Collection products, such as the Ben Bowls ($8 ea), Ben Dinner Plates ($10 ea), and Ben Tumblers ($4 ea) pictured below… all available at Velocity Art and Design.

I love the fun colors and squiggle pattern featured on the Ben Collection dinner plates, tumblers, and coasters…

Check out the Working Class Studio section at Velocity Art and Design for lots more great designs like these!

Serve cocktails in style with this fabulous Monogrammed Lucite Tray from Dabney Lee at Home! ($120) This hip, personalized tray also makes for a great home accessory or unique gift idea for weddings or new nesters…. and just check out all of the great customization options…

Pictured below – more favorites from the Dabney Lee collection: Monogrammed Recipe Cards + Box ($80), Monogrammed Drink Coasters + Box ($80 for 125), Monogrammed Wall Art ($120), and another great gift idea: Monogrammed Playing Cards + Box ($50).

To check out the complete Dabney Lee collection – visit dabneyleeathome.com.